WWE, during their episodes of Smackdown and Raw, make advertisement and promos for other shows in the USA Network. During an episode of recent Monday Night Raw, WWE senior commentator Michael Cole gave a promo to the Barmageddon game which is also under USA Network.
During the reading of the promo, Cole mentioned the co-artist and all the producers of the game show. Despite being the show’s host, Nikki Garcia, better known as Nikki Bella in WWE, was conspicuously absent from the promotional material.
Why is Nikki Bella upset with WWE?
Nikki Bella is the host of USA Network’s Barmageddon, a high-energy, celebrity-packed game show that takes classic bar games to the extreme.
In each episode, two teams of celebrities and viral video stars compete in over-the-top challenges making Barmageddon a must-watch for fans of fun and competitive entertainment. WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella had an interview with NBC Chicago on her 40th birthday and spoke on the game.
When interviewed by NBC Chicago, she said, “It’s sad. There’s obviously a lot of things I could say about that. I think more than anything it’s disappointing. I worked there for 16 years and I helped paved the way for them.”
“Not only that, they’ve always been family to me. Walking away, for me, it wasn’t malicious. I’m at a point in my life and I wanted to do things without hearing the word ‘no’ and it was just strictly business”
She also mentioned that WWE didn’t allow her to use the name Nikki Bella in the show. WWE owns the trademark to the “Bella” name, so Nikki and Brie Bella were not allowed to use it professionally after they left the company in 2023. They have since reverted to their legal maiden name of “Garcia” and are now known as The Garcia Twins.
Why did Nikki Bella retire from WWE?
Bella’s journey in WWE began in 2007 when she and her twin sister, Brie, signed with the company. The Bella Twins quickly became fan favorites, captivating audiences with their energetic personalities and undeniable athleticism.
They rose through the ranks, capturing multiple Divas Championships and cementing their place as one of the most successful female tag teams of all time.
While Bella had enjoyed a successful career in WWE, she had also faced creative frustrations in recent years. She felt that her storylines were not always given the attention they deserved, and she expressed a desire to be more involved in the creative process behind her character.
In 2019, Bella was diagnosed with a cyst on her brain, a condition that required close monitoring and raised concerns about her ability to continue performing in the physically demanding world of professional wrestling. Bella’s decision to leave WWE was not taken lightly. Considering all her challenges, it was a good decision made by her for the better future.
